Stars take 3-0 series lead over San Jose

DALLAS (AP)—Mattias Norstrom was the most unlikely scorer on the ice for the Dallas Stars. Still, he took a whack at the puck.

And it went in the net.

Norstrom’s goal 4:37 into overtime Tuesday night gave the Stars a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks and a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

“I tried to get it on net, it went off a stick. Fortunately, it went in,” said Norstrom, sounding as shocked as anyone about his game-winner.

“He would have been real deep in my depth chart,” captain Brenden Morrow said with a smile.

Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov had already made several impressive saves in overtime, but there were too many bodies around him and he never saw Norstrom’s shot from the top of the left circle after a pass from Mike Ribeiro. The puck slipped through the traffic, clipping Jeremy Roenick’s stick along the way.

It was only the second goal in 47 career playoff games for Norstrom, a 14-season defenseman who has scored only 18 regular-season goals for three NHL teams.

“He just got it over me and it hit my stick,” Roenick said. “It was another bad break. It’s amazing how we can’t get a bounce in this series.”

Sharks captain Patrick Marleau put his team up 1-0 when he scored an unassisted short-handed goal with 35 seconds left in the first period. But he had already been denied a power-play goal because of an inadvertent whistle.

Only 4 minutes into the game, and already on a power play, Marleau jammed a loose puck past Marty Turco. But referee Don VanMassenhoven quickly waved off the score, indicating that he had already blown a whistle.

The referee didn’t realize that the puck still hadn’t been controlled after Joe Thornton’s shot because the ref’s view from behind the net was obstructed by Turco, who was completely extended and on his side after making the initial stop.

“I was surprised the whistle was blown,” Marleau said.

“(The referee) can’t see the puck because he’s standing behind the net,” Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. “The puck’s laying in the crease, he put it in. It should be a goal. He made a mistake, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

The last time the Stars had a 3-0 series lead was in the first round of the 1999 playoffs, when they swept Edmonton and went on to win the Stanley Cup. This is their 16th postseason series since then.

Dallas can wrap up the series Wednesday night at home.

“There’s a lot of momentum right now,” Mike Modano said. “It’ll be a fun night, an elimination game.”

Nabokov stopped 27 shots, including Niklas Hagman’s penalty shot with 9:10 left in regulation when the goalie slid to his left to deny the backhander. Hagman got that opportunity after he was taken down by Christian Ehrhoff skating toward the net with the puck.

In overtime, Nabokov denied Loui Eriksson twice. The second shot by Eriksson came as he tried to knock in the rebound of Brad Richards’ shot that the goalie kicked away.

“There’s no quit in this room. All the games have been pretty close,” Nabokov said. “It’s been little bounces here and there. … We have to regroup and forget these games.”

San Jose had a 2-1 lead heading into the third period of Game 2 before the Stars scored four goals. In the series opener, Norstrom had the primary assist on Morrow's game-winning overtime goal.

Sergei Zubov, whose turnover led to Marleau's short-hander, made amends in the first minute of the third when he scored on a shot from the top of the right circle.

The Stars began the third period on a power play, and 35 seconds later had a two-man advantage when Ehrhoff was whistled for hooking Morrow. On the ensuing goal, Morrow was in front of Nabokov, providing a screen when Zubov took a pass from Ribeiro.

Zubov, the 15-season veteran and two-time Stanley Cup winner, played only his second game since mid-January after operations to place a screw in a bone in his right foot and to repair a sports hernia. He had the primary assist on Modano's tiebreaking goal in Game 2.

But with the Stars on the power play after Thornton's cross-checking penalty, Zubov blindly passed back to an unexpecting Jere Lehtinen. The puck was instead picked up at center ice by Marleau, who drove and shot over Turco's left shoulder.

"I thought for the first two periods we played a perfect road game," Wilson said. "We had some good opportunities and snuffed theirs out. We took at bad penalty at the end of the second period and then we put a gun to our head with that 5-on-3 opportunity, and they converted."


Notes
Dallas has outscored opponents 19-5 in the third period and overtime through nine playoff games. ... The Stars announced during the game that C Steve Ott has signed a new $2.85 million, two-year contract through the 2009-10 season. ... Sharks D Craig Rivet was knocked hard to the ice with 14 minutes left in the third period, when he had a head-to-head collision with teammate Brian Campbell, who was knocked into him after taking an open-ice check from Morrow. Rivet remained down for a couple of minutes, but went to the bench on his own and was soon back in the game. ... The Sharks and Stars were forced to play back-to-back games because the American Airlines Center was already booked for a potential NBA playoff game that won't even be played. The Dallas Mavericks were eliminated from their first-round series with a loss in New Orleans on Tuesday night.

Rangers forward Sean Avery hospitalized

From The AP:
"New York Rangers forward Sean Avery has been hospitalized after lacerating his spleen during a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In a statement Wednesday, the team said the noted agitator was taken to St. Vincent’s Medical Center after New York’s 5-3 loss Tuesday night and was admitted following a CT scan.

Avery, whose spleen was not removed and isn’t expected to need surgery, likely will be hospitalized for a few days, team spokesman John Rosasco said.

Michael Fagan, spokesman for St. Vincent’s Medical Center, said Avery is in “stable” condition.

Rosasco said it’s unclear when Avery was injured, but the forward complained during the game of pain that got worse. Shortly after the game, Avery went in a car from Madison Square Garden to the hospital with team physician Dr. Andrew Feldman.

“He walked into the hospital,” Rosasco said. “He was never in a life-threatening situation.”


Avery’s mother, Marlene, told the Toronto Sun that Avery’s spleen had not ruptured, but he had suffered internal bleeding.

The spleen is an organ about the size of a fist on the left side of the body, behind the stomach. It helps the body fight infection and filters the blood. A person can live without a spleen, although they lose some of their ability to fight infections.

The 28-year-old Avery will be out for the remainder of the season, the Rangers said, but is expected to make a full recovery.

New York trails Pittsburgh 3-0 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series and can be eliminated as early as Thursday night in Game 4 at the Garden. The Rangers went 33-14-10 with Avery in the lineup this season and 9-13-3 when he was sidelined with injuries.

Avery was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings in February 2007 and sparked the team’s playoff run in which the Rangers went 17-6-6 in games he played following his arrival."

Mavericks Fire Avery Johnson After Playoff Loss To Hornets

From The AP:
"The Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, the first of what’s likely to be many offseason moves after the team with the league’s highest payroll again flopped in the first round of the playoffs.

Johnson leaves with an impressive resume after three-plus seasons, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban couldn’t tolerate two straight years of first-round exits—or the fact that Dallas has gone 3-12 in the playoffs since blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals against Miami.

The Mavericks followed that 2006 disappointment by the embarrassment of being ousted by Golden State in the opening round last season in one of the biggest upsets in league history. And they were just dumped in five games by Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets.

Dallas didn’t win a single road game against the Heat, Warriors or Hornets, an 0-9 skid that was too much to overcome.

The final mark during Johnson’s tenure: 194-70 in the regular season, 23-24 in the playoffs."

Where May Avery Johnson end up next? The New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls are among the teams needing coaches, and both might want a young, proven coach who preaches defense and discipline. He has had teams that can make the playoffs, but the last time he won a championship wasn't as coach of the Mavericks: It was as A Player for the Spurs in 1999.

I Still believe Dallas made a mistake by trading for a 35 year old Point Guard in Jason Kidd when they had a good young Point Guard in Devin Harris. Harris kept New Jersey in the Playoff Picture until the very end of the season.

Guess What? Dallas made another mistake by letting Avery Johnson go. He was a good coach who has had the misfortune of watching his team crumble when they were in the playoffs or had a big lead.

It's this simple: The Mavericks live and die with Dirk Nowitski. If he's having a great game, the Mavericks will win, but if he struggles, Dallas will lose.

It's not Avery Johnson's fault other teams stopped the Motor of the Mavericks in Dirk Nowitski.

NBA highlights from April 29

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 29! Did the Mavericks, Suns and Rockets win Game Five to stay alive in the series? Watch the video to find out!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


The Ultimate In Bad Luck! Thaddeus Young Goes for the Steal but Tips it in Instead!


Check Out Chris Paul Leads the Hornets to Round 2, where they will play San Antonio!

There Can Only Be One

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There Can Only Be One: Kidd-Paul

Playoff Preview: April 29th

Here Is Your Playoff Preview for tonight's playoff games!

NBA Highlights From April 28th

Here Are Your NBA Highlights from Last Night, April 28th!


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Joe Johnson with the Killer Crossover & the Dagger Three!


Joe Johnson Owns The Fourth Quarter!

Since I Put Dennis Green's Tirade Up..

I Figured it would only be fair to show you the Coors Light commercial featuring Dennis Green. I Didn't want to let you Off the hook!

25th Anniversary Of Lee Elia Cubs Tirade (NSFW)

(NSFW LANGUAGE!)


Here's Background on the Lee Elia Tirade from Cubs.com:

"Elia was the Cubs' manager on April 29, 1983, and his team was playing host to the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of 9,391 fans at Wrigley Field. The Cubs led, 2-0, but the Dodgers rallied, and the two teams were tied at 3 going into the eighth inning.

Ken Landreaux doubled to lead off and advanced on a fly ball by Dusty Baker. Then Cubs closer Lee Smith entered the game. He threw a wild pitch, and Landreaux scored the game-winning run.

As Elia and the Cubs were walking off the field, Keith Moreland and Larry Bowa got into a shoving match with some fans. With the loss, the team had dropped to 5-14. The reporters were waiting for Elia in his office, and the Cubs' manager went ballistic.

For slightly more than three minutes, Elia sounded off. Here's a partial version: "Eighty-five percent of the people in this country work. The other 15 percent come here and boo my players. They oughta go and get a job and find out what it's like to go out and earn a living."

Les Grobstein, then the sports director for WLS Radio in Chicago, taped the tirade and had it on the air at 4:55 p.m. CT that day. It might have been broadcast sooner, but it took some time to bleep all the obscenities.

Elia didn't realize what he had done until general manager Dallas Green called him up to his office to hear the tape. One of the beat writers had called Green to get his reaction. Elia wasn't fired immediately, but he was let go a few months later.

That was 25 years ago. On Monday, Elia was in Chicago to mark the 25th anniversary of his famous meltdown. And he now has a positive message for Cubs fans. Elia has teamed with Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities and memorabilia company A & R Collectibles to produce a 20-second recording that professes his love for Cubs fans.

Fans can purchase the display case with the audio message, plus a baseball autographed by Elia that also has, "And print it," for $89.95. For more information, fans can visit www.Leeunplugged.com. Ten percent of the sale will go to the charity.

And Elia's new message?

"I'll tell you one thing -- it's time the Cubs get hotter than hell this season and [stick it to] the rest of the baseball world," Elia said. "The 40,000 fans who fill this ballpark every day and work hard for a living are no nickel dimers. They deserve a championship. They're real Chicago Cubs fans. And print it."

Now 70, Elia said his tirade and the backlash from it bothered him for some time. "

Haha! Funny stuff from Lee Elia! Even though I am a Cubs fan, this tirade by Lee Elia makes me laugh. This reminds me of another famous meltdown (Again NSFW):

Scary Moment During Rockies-Dodgers Game

Homeplate umpire Kerwin Danley takes a 95 mph fastball to the jaw during the Dodgers-Rockies game Saturday.

Report:Pat Riley to step down as Miami Heat head coach

According to FoxSports.com, Pat Riley has scheduled an afternoon news conference during which he is expected to step down as Heat head coach, according to multiple reports out of Miami.

Riley will stay on as team president, according to the reports, a role he had previously assumed along with his coaching duties.

Assistant coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to be named Riley's replacement at the 4 p.m. ET news conference, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The Heat are coming off one of the most abysmal seasons in team history, finishing with a 15-67 record that matched the franchise's worst.

The record was also Riley's worst in 25 years of coaching. He ranks third in NBA history with 1,210 career victories.

Since winning the NBA title in 2006, the Heat are just 59-105.

Stars ride 3rd period to 2-0 lead on Sharks

By The Associated Press

Joe Pavelski collapsed like a kid on rented skates, nudging the puck straight to Brad Richards as he fell. Richards, who has a few big playoff goals in his past, turned that turnover into the Dallas Stars' tying score before the Sharks even knew they were doomed.
Three goals later, Mike Modano and the Stars were headed home from a building they would prefer never to leave with a two-game series lead and ample reason to think their second-round series will be a short one.


The Sharks? Just like Pavelski, they've lost their edge.

Modano scored the tiebreaking goal early in the Stars' four-goal third period, and Marty Turco made 29 saves in a 5-2 victory in Game 2 on Sunday night.

Richards scored the tying goal just 32 seconds into the third period on Pavelski's accidental gift, and Niklas Hagman added two insurance goals in the Stars' eighth victory in their last nine trips to San Jose. Mike Ribeiro also scored an early goal before Dallas put a tremendous finish on another profitable night at the Shark Tank.

"We've had amazing third periods so far in the playoffs," said Modano, who has six goals in six games in San Jose this season. "It was a big trip for us. Now it's up to us to respond to this at home. We know this is far from over, but at the same time, we had a great two days here. Every shift, every night, we've looked hungry."

Dallas hasn't reached the conference finals since 2000, when the Stars beat San Jose in the second round on the way to their second straight Stanley Cup finals appearance. As Modano noted, they're thriving this season with big finishes: The Stars have four multiple-goal third periods in their eight playoff games.

Games 3 and 4 are back-to-back, starting Tuesday night in Dallas. The Sharks might have a better chance to get competitive in Texas, since the NHL's best road team during the regular season has won three of its last four games in Dallas.

"We've played very well in Dallas all season long," Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. "We can just relax now and push the pace, and play as a desperate hockey team. You just have to keep playing on. You can't worry about your missed opportunities."

Milan Michalek and Joe Pavelski scored for the second-seeded Sharks, who are 4-5 overall in the playoffs with none of the momentum they acquired during their 20-game regular-season streak without a regulation defeat. Evgeni Nabokov stopped 21 shots, but was no closer to top form than his teammates.

"We started good, and we had a lead after the second (period)," Michalek said. "We let it slip away. We can't let it happen again. We have to go there and win two. We've been good on the road all season."

San Jose nursed a 2-1 lead heading into the third period, but Pavelski's giveaway encapsulated everything that's gone poorly for the Sharks at home - and everything that's working for the Stars, whose persistence and preparation allows them to seize such breaks.

"I've been fighting it a bit through the first five periods, and that's not a good feeling," said Richards, the Dallas newcomer who scored an NHL-record seven game-winning goals while leading Tampa Bay to the 2004 Cup. "I kept grinding away, trying to make things happen, and then sometimes you catch a break."

Modano then put the Stars ahead with 16:21 to play on a goal set up by an exceptional play from defenseman Sergei Zubov, who was in Dallas' lineup for the first time since Jan. 17. The two-time Stanley Cup winner underwent surgery on a sports hernia in Germany earlier in the month.

Late in a prolonged Dallas cycle, Zubov made a stunning cross-ice backhand pass out of a graceful pirouette, and Modano buried his second goal of the series.

"You have to realize it's coming to you," said Modano, who's been playing with Zubov since 1996. "He made another great play."

When Hagman banged home his first goal, thousands of fans headed for the exits in souvenir teal T-shirts handed out by the Sharks before the game. Hagman added an empty-netter with 1:15 to play.

Dallas won the opener 3-2 on captain Brenden Morrow's overtime goal, using its trapping defensive style to neutralize the Sharks' offensive talent as effectively as they did against Anaheim in the opening round. San Jose has struggled to adjust to a slower pace after beating the run-and-gun Calgary Flames in the first round.

After Pavelski and Ribeiro traded first-period goals, San Jose went ahead late in the second when Rivet and Brian Campbell made sharp passes to set up Michalek on a breakaway, which he converted easily after Turco's overeager attempt at a poke-check. Michalek, the Sharks' second-leading scorer during the regular season, went scoreless in seven games against Calgary before notching a goal in each of his first two games against Dallas.


Notes
Dallas D Philippe Boucher remained sidelined with a strained hip. ... San Jose replaced Nabokov with Brian Boucher with 2:45 to play. ... Dallas played with seven defensemen in uniform, scratching C Toby Petersen for Zubov's return. ... Sharks D Kyle McLaren missed his fourth straight game with a groin injury.

Pens put Rangers in 2-0 series hole

By The Associated Press

Jordan Staal's game-winning playoff goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins couldn't have made his parents much happier. Or sadder.
Staal's power-play goal in the second period broke a scoreless tie and Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up, giving the Penguins a 2-0 victory Sunday over New York Rangers and a home-ice sweep of the first two games of their second-round series.


Staal's goal came with older brother Marc, a Rangers defenseman on the ice, and was all the offensive support Fleury needed while making 26 saves. Fleury helped the Penguins kill off two key Rangers power plays in the final six-plus minutes before Adam Hall scored into an empty net with 16.7 seconds remaining.

Games 3 and 4 will be Tuesday and Thursday nights at Madison Square Garden, where Pittsburgh is 0-3-1 this season.

Staal's power-play goal at 13:55 of the second came with the Rangers' best penalty killer, Chris Drury, off for hooking. Evgeni Malkin gathered the puck in the left circle and, shedding Marc Staal, fed it down low to Jordan Staal, who shifted from his backhand to his forehand to lift the puck over goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

"He's a great passer," Jordan Staal said. "I'm just glad to be the finisher."

Did he realize who Malkin beat to get him the puck?

"Not really," Staal said. "It's all pretty much a blur out there."

Staal's game-winner no doubt delighted parents Linda and Henry Staal on their sod farm in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but also disappointed them. The Staals' parents decided not to attend the series because they knew one son would be disappointed when it ended.

Older brother Eric Staal of Carolina, a Stanley Cup winner two years ago, cut an NHL commercial in which he jokingly said the playoffs determine which son the Staals like best.

"That's a good question," Jordan Staal said, smiling. "I know they're cheering for a good game. This is tough for them, we know that, but it's part of the game."

Staal has played well in the playoffs so far after having a disappointing sophomore regular season, getting only 12 goals, none short-handed. He had 29 goals and an NHL rookie-record seven short-handed scores as an 18-year-old.

Lundqvist, a Vezina Trophy finalist, played a superlative game with 30 saves, several times making multiple stops with traffic in front of him and the Penguins pressing to take a lead they knew would put further pressure on the Rangers. New York now must sweep the two games at home to regain a tie in the series between Atlantic Division rivals.

"We just have to go back home and still feel confident, we know we can beat this team," Lundqvist said. "We have to go back home and get two wins there and come back here, and it's going to be pressure on them."

So far, it's the much younger Penguins who are standing up to the pressure of the playoffs, becoming the first team in franchise history to win its first six playoff games. The Penguins swept Ottawa in the first round.

"We haven't played our best hockey there (at Madison Square Garden), we know that," Jordan Staal said. "The way we're rolling right now, hopefully we'll be ready for it."

Sidney Crossly didn't score but again occupied the Rangers' attention at both ends of the ice, sometimes in a distracting way. Crosby drew the penalty that led to Malkin's deflected game-winning goal during Pittsburgh's 5-4 victory in Game 1 on Friday, causing some of the Rangers to accuse him of diving to set up the power play.

When Crosby went down again in the first period to draw another penalty, Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr - the former Penguins star - could be seen yelling at Crosby, "Stand up!"

Asked what he said to Crosby, Jagr said, "Just play hockey, that's all."

New York was 0-for-6 on the power play and is 1-for-9 in the series.

"We need a little more traffic (in front against Fleury)," coach Tom Renney said. "I'm not going to suggest it was really easy for him, but it certainly could have been tougher. The big thing for us is to create some momentum of our own at MSG and really take this series back."

Fleury bounced back from his worst game of these playoffs to play his best.

"As a goalie, it never feels good to give up four goals, so I wanted to come back and play a good game," he said.

Martin Straka shoveled the puck between Fleury's pads during New York's next-to-last power play, but referee Dan O'Halloran - who felt the puck had been covered - blew his whistle before it crossed the goal line.

"I thought it was an accurate call," Renney said. "I don't know if it was a quick whistle or not."


Notes
The Penguins are 8-2 in home playoff games against the Rangers. New York lost its previous three playoff series against Pittsburgh. ... Pittsburgh has at least one power-play goal in all six playoff games. ... The Penguins have won Game 2 in their last eight playoff series. ... The Rangers last came back from a 2-0 playoff deficit to win a series in 1996, taking the final four against Montreal.

Playoff Preview: April 28th

Here's Your Preview for tonight's Playoff Games!

Enjoy the Games on NBA TV And TNT!

NBA highlights from April 27th

Here Are Your NBA Highlights From Last Night, April 27th!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


Andre Iguodala Elevates for the Thunderous Righty Jam!


LeBron's 34-12 Double Stack Leads Cavs!


LeBron James Soars for the Two-Handed Windmill!


Daniel Gibson Gets the Steal & LeBron James Adds the Slam!


Delonte West Hits the Game Winner!

Sunday's Playoff Preview

Here's Sunday's Playoff Preview!

NBA highlights from April 26

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 26th!


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Josh Smith Soars For the Monster Slam!


Check Out Hometown Kid Josh Smith Doing It All for the Hawks against Boston Last Night!


Welcome To Dwight Howard's Block Party!

Morrow's OT goal propels Stars past Sharks

By The Associated Press
Their dressing room is small and spare, and the teal-colored crowd despises them. Yet the Dallas Stars feel right at home these days in the Shark Tank.

Even when they gave up a tying goal late in regulation Friday night, the Stars seemed more comfortable and capable than their hosts. Brenden Morrow then proved it with a game-winner that got Dallas off to another fine playoff start.

Morrow scored his second goal 4:39 into overtime, and the Stars opened their second-round series with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Mike Modano also scored another timely goal against one of his favorite opponents, and Marty Turco made 25 saves in the Stars' seventh win in their last eight trips to Silicon Valley. They've thoroughly dominated the Pacific Division champion Sharks here for two years, leading Modano to jokingly rename his team "the San Jose Stars" after their sixth straight win in January.

"It's a really fun place to play. The atmosphere is great," said Morrow, who already has five goals - two more than his previous career playoff high - in Dallas' seven postseason games.

"Our goal was to come in and steal a game," Morrow added. "You never know what it will be or how many goals it will take. We didn't want to be denied. Marty had such a great first period for us to keep us in the game."

Game 2 is Sunday night, with Game 3 in Dallas on Tuesday.

After eliminating defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim in the first round, the fifth-seeded Stars rallied from a two-shot first period and an early deficit to take away home-ice advantage from the division rival Sharks, who needed seven games to put away Calgary in the opening round.

Jonathan Cheechoo scored the tying goal for San Jose with 3:02 left in the third period, but the Sharks' defensive confusion allowed Mattias Norstrom to whip the puck across the ice to Morrow early in OT. The Dallas captain scored easily against an off-balance Evgeni Nabokov, who finished with 16 saves.

"Some good things have happened here," said Modano, who became the NHL's leading American-born scorer during a game in San Jose last year. "I've had a lot of games over a lot of seasons against these guys. After so many years and games, I kind of feel comfortable out West."

Milan Michalek scored an early goal for the second-seeded Sharks, who blew Game 1 for the second straight series. San Jose again endured special-teams mistakes while taking a handful of careless penalties and struggling to generate offense against the Dallas trap.

"We need to do a better job on some guys on some of their lines," Sharks captain Patrick Marleau said. "We need to get more shots and generate more traffic. We'll make some changes and go from there."

The Sharks reached the second round for their NHL-best fourth straight season, while Dallas ended a streak of three straight first-round defeats by eliminating the Ducks in impressive fashion.

Both teams came out cautiously for their ninth meeting of the season. The Stars didn't get their first shot of the game until late in their second power play with 3:36 left in the first period.

Michalek, who went scoreless in the Sharks' first seven games against Calgary, got credit for their first goal when his shot trickled underneath Turco midway through the second period. Modano, who scored four goals in four trips to San Jose during the regular season, tied it with a power-play goal 76 seconds later, putting a one-timer through traffic.

"(On) the goals they scored, we lost the battles," Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. "We turned it over against a great line. You don't win the battles, (you) give somebody like Mike Ribeiro two or three shots at making plays. It should be one, and then we snuff it and get the puck out."

Morrow then scored on a rebound of Ribeiro's shot for his team-leading fourth goal of the postseason. The Sharks couldn't break through until Cheechoo, the goal-scoring specialist who also tied Game 4 against Calgary with a remarkable late score, banged home Torrey Mitchell's rebound of Matt Carle's shot for his fourth goal of the postseason.

Dallas had a power play in the final 2 1/2 minutes of regulation, but couldn't score.

The clubs split eight meetings during the regular season, with each winning its first three trips to the other team's building before two late-season home victories. The Sharks and Stars racked up 160 penalty minutes in the regular-season finale 19 days earlier, with several fighting majors in both clubs' most-penalized game of the season.

Though they were even against each other, the clubs finished the regular season on opposite trajectories. San Jose trailed the division-leading Stars by 11 points on Feb. 29, but a 20-game string without a regulation defeat catapulted the Sharks past Dallas to the Pacific title.

Dallas defenseman Sergei Zubov was scratched again despite rejoining workouts this week. Zubov, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, has been out since Jan. 17 because of a sports hernia.


Notes
Both clubs played their first overtime game of the postseason. ... Dallas' Shark Tank winning streak ended with San Jose's overtime victory March 27. ... C Jeremy Roenick, who scored four points Tuesday in San Jose's clinching win over Calgary, is second behind Modano on the list of American-born scorers. ... San Jose played its third straight game without D Kyle McLaren, who has a groin injury.

Rangers blow three-goal lead against Pens

By The Associated Press
A memorable Pittsburgh comeback left the Penguins laughing at each other, an improbable victory accomplished. And left the New York Rangers, with their decided edge in experience, wondering how they possibly could lose such a big lead in such a big game.

Evgeni Malkin deflected Sidney Crosby's one-timer from the right point on a Pittsburgh power play with 1:41 remaining to finish a frantic comeback, and the Penguins rallied from a three-goal deficit against the Rangers for a 5-4 victory in their second-round playoff series opener Friday night.

Petr Sykora and Marian Hossa scored 20 seconds apart early in the third period during Pittsburgh's second such flurry of their rally, and the Penguins shook off Scott Gomez's tying goal midway through the period to win it.

"A game is never finished for us," Sykora said, referring to the Penguins' wealth of scorers. "We have the power to score to score a lot of goals here. It doesn't matter if we're down one, two, three goals."

The Rangers lost for the first time in four road games in these playoffs, an unexpected ending after they seized the momentum and, it seemed, control of the game with a 3-0 lead. But they couldn't have guessed the Penguins would twice score two goals in 20 seconds or less against a team known for its defensive commitment and patience.

"Pittsburgh isn't where they're at because they're a poor team and they don't know how to bounce back," coach Tom Renney said. "We were certainly aware of that - almost to a fault."

Just when it appeared the two Atlantic Division rivals were headed to overtime, one of the many former Penguins who played a key role in the game, Martin Straka, was called for interference with 3:20 remaining.

Crosby took Ryan Whitney's pass and, shooting beyond his normal range from beyond the right circle, put a slap shot on net that deflected off Malkin's shin guard for the Penguins' only power-play goal. The play was briefly reviewed to make sure Malkin didn't kick the puck into the net.

"I saw it was going wide and I reached for it and it hit Malkin's leg and went in," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. "We just have to forget this. I don't want to think about it, I just want to move on."

Crosby doesn't own the best slap shot, so Malkin marveled at how he could take such a good one at such a key time.

"His slap shot is, uhh, not that good," Malkin said through an interpreter. "That shot he just put everything in it, all the motion, all the power and he shot that puck that hard."

So hard, they probably felt it in New York.

"(Ahead) 3-0 in the playoffs, you'd like to think it's over, but what are you going to do?" Gomez said. "We can't get in a track meet with those guys. It's over, there's nothing you can do about it."

Game 2 is Sunday in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins have won their last 11.

"That one hurts. I thought we had it," Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr said. "The second one is going to be even tougher, but we have to do it somehow."

The Rangers had tied it at 4 after Jagr - who won the Stanley Cup in his first two NHL seasons with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 - carried the puck behind the net, then threw it in front, missing Straka but finding Gomez for a one-timer.

Long before that, Jarkko Ruutu and Pascal Dupuis scored in a span of 14 seconds midway through the second period to get the Penguins back in it after the crafty, patient Rangers appeared to be in control.

"They maybe thought we were going to close the book right there, but we came back hard," Dupuis said.

In a game filled with fortuitous bounces and deflections on a poor ice surface in which nearly every goal ticked off a skate or took a lucky hop, the Rangers took their big lead on goals by Straka, Chris Drury and Sean Avery against Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Drury and Avery, the super pest who riled up the New Jersey Devils during the Rangers' five-game opening round series, scored 1:45 apart early in the second.

Former Penguins defenseman Michal Rozsival had three assists, and defenseman Marc Staal, brother of the Penguins' Jordan Staal, set up two goals. Jordan Staal also had an assist.

But as secure as that 3-0 lead must have looked to Rangers fans with Vezina Trophy finalist Lundqvist in net, the Penguins have the speed and the skill to get back in a game in a hurry. And they did.

"We don't want to behind like that, but we didn't quit and got some bounces and stayed with it," Crosby said. "A lot of goals went off guys. It was one of those weird games where pucks were bouncing everywhere."

Ruutu scored 8:13 into the second to give the white-wearing Penguins crowd its first bit of life since an early surge in which the Penguins had the first eight shots. It became a game again only 14 seconds later when Crosby stole the puck from Christian Backman and set up Dupuis for a one-timer from the left circle.

Hossa tied it early in the third on a goal that may have deflected off Gomez's skate, and Sykora got his fourth of the playoffs only 20 seconds later on a 3-on-2 break with Malkin and Ryan Malone.


Notes
The Penguins are 3-0 in playoff series against the Rangers, winning in 1989, 1992 and 1996. ... Pittsburgh won the first game in each of those series. ... Lundqvist is 12-7-3 against Pittsburgh in his career.

Saturday's Playoff Preview

Here's The Preview for tonight's Playoff Games!

NBA highlights from April 25

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 25th!



Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


Julian Wright Catches the Airball and Throws it Down!


Check Out Tony Parker scoring 41 points against the Suns Last Night!


Suns Fans, Don't fret. It's not over till you win four games. I know this is a different sport, but look at the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who came back from a 3-0 defecit in the ALCS against the "Evil Empire", The New York Yankees, thanks to clutch hits by David Ortiz.

Game Four of the Suns-Spurs Series is Sunday on ABC.

The Cover Athlete For Madden NFL 09 Is Released...

And The Cover Athlete Is...

SUPRISE! Brett Favre Is The Cover Athlete for Madden NFL 09!

Here Is The Press Release From ESPN Video Games:
"The upcoming release of Madden NFL 09 on August 12 marks the 20th anniversary of the highly successful video game franchise. This milestone of longevity could help explain why the game's producer, EA Sports, seemed to have been in a nostalgic mood with an eye towards history when selecting this year's cover athlete. Instead of going with a bright young star of the game, as has been the tradition since Madden 2001, they chose a man who had been a dominant force in the NFL over much of the 20 year history of the video game, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Having announced his retirement in early March, Favre becomes the first non-active player to appear on the game's cover."

A Suprising Development in the 20th Anniversary of Madden. John Madden will no longer provide commentary:
"Madden NFL 09 will also feature a network-inspired broadcast presentation. Players will benefit from the authentic football knowledge of an in-booth play-by-play and color commentary team featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond. In addition, numerous graphical enhancements have been made, including realistic weather and grass, sleeker player models and exterior stadium views."

And the most important info, What systems will it be on?
"Madden NFL 09 will be available for the Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation2 and PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment systems, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP (PlayStationPortable) handheld entertainment system and is rated RP by the ESRB. "

NBA highlights from April 24

Here Are Your NBA Highlights from Last Night, April 24th!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


The Wizzards Strike Back!


And Your Top Play! Carl Landry Makes the Game-Winning Rejection! Check Out The Call from Kevin Harlan!

Chicago Cubs Defeat Defending National League Champion Rockies In Ten Innings For 10,000th Win

It Took Ten Innings, but the Chicago Cubs Finally got it done.

The Chicago Cubs joined the New York/San Francisco Giants as the only teams with 10,000 victories as they beat the defending National League Champion Colorado Rockies 7-6 Wednesday Night.

The win also gave Manager Lou Pinella his 100th win as Chicago Cubs manager.

The Cubs had a 6-5 lead in the ninth and appeared to be within reach of getting the win, but Ryan Spillborghs hit a Triple into right center field scoring former White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik to tie the game at six.

Ryan Theriot's RBI single off Kip Wells with two outs in the 10th inning Wednesday night gave the Cubs their sixth straight win.

Thursday's Playoff Preview

Here's Tonight's Playoff Preview!

NBA highlights from April 23

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 23!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


Check Out Kobe Bryant Scoring 49 Points!


And Your Top Play! Kobe Bryant Proves He's a Slam Dunk Giant!

Adam "Pac-Man Jones" Traded To Cowboys

(AP)—The Tennessee Titans finally washed their hands of suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones on Wednesday, agreeing in principle to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple confirmed the teams had an agreement, but no terms had been filed with the NFL office, which already had closed for the day.

The Titans also confirmed the deal, adding that terms had to be finalized. The team had no further comment beyond a two-sentence e-mail.

Dalrymple declined to discuss specifics of the trade.

“What I can confirm is that we have agreed in principle with the Tennessee Titans on a trade that will bring Adam Jones to the Cowboys,” Dalrymple said.

He declined to say who or what the Cowboys might give up in the trade. Specifics likely will be announced Thursday or Friday, Dalrymple said.

ESPN.com reported the deal involved a fourth-round draft pick this weekend and another in 2009 if Jones plays this season. The Titans would pay back that selection in 2009 if Jones is not reinstated for this season.


Agent Manny Arora said Wednesday night that they had not been told of the trade by either team, but were cautiously optimistic. Jones has talked often of his desire to play for the Cowboys in recent weeks, even appearing on Michael Irvin’s radio show in Texas.

“We recognize the fact of where we are with regards to the league,” Arora said. “We recognize the fact he’s got a guaranteed contract with Tennessee, and we recognize the fact there’s risks involved at this point. We also recognize there’s significant public relations implications for the teams, and in fact Dallas has to sell tickets, the knowledge their fan base has a point of view.

“With all that in mind, we’ve said from Day 1 we’re willing to rework our contract. Once the trade gets completed or official, we’ll be ready to do our part because we want to play for Dallas. I don’t have any hesitation saying we can get this done and get it done quickly.”

Jones was scheduled for a base salary of $1.74 million in 2008 and had been under contract through 2009 before his suspension.

He was the first defensive player drafted in 2005, sixth overall out of West Virginia, and easily was Tennessee’s best defender in 2005 and `06. His four career interceptions came in 2006 as he helped the Titans to an 8-8 record. He also led the NFL in punt-return average in 2006 with 12.9 yards per return and three touchdowns.

But six arrests and 12 incidents where police were called since being drafted led to his suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in April 2007 for the season. Goodell declined to ease that punishment when Jones appealed to return after sitting out 10 games and now will only say that he’ll reconsider reinstating the cornerback before training camps open.

My Take:

Dallas Got Pac-Man Jones. Hopefully he gets his life straight once he gets reinstated. He is a great defensive back and a great return man, if he stays out of trouble.

I personally would not have done this trade. Pac-Man has been in too much trouble already. I would have done the smart thing and not drafted him in college, as there were red flags about him while he was in college.

Jerry Jones is propelling Dallas torwards the Goal of a Sixth Super Bowl Title. Was Pac-Man Worth the risk?

John Smoltz: 3,000 Strikeouts

Click On The Video to see John Smoltz get his 3,000th Strikeout against the Washington Nationals. Hurry! There Is Only a limited ammount of time before MLB Advanced Media will file a copyright claim to get the video removed!


Smoltz struck out 10 batters, but the braves lost 6-0 to the Washington Nstionals, but nobody will remember the score of the game 20 years from now. They will remember John Smoltz. Smoltz has been on the front and back end of the Braves rotation, as he saved 55 games in 2002 while winning 14 games for the eventual NL East Champions upon his return to the bullpen.

If you add to that the Braves are the only uniform he's ever put on in a dying art of players staying with one team their entire career, John Smoltz should abseloutely Join Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux in the Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown.

Playoff Preview: April 23rd

Here Is Your NBA Playoff Preview of Tonight's Trio Of NBA Games!

NBA highlights from April 22nd

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 22nd!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


And Your Top Play! Chris Paul Whirls and Connects with Tyson Chandler for the Alley-oop Jam!

Gotta Love Those Wrigley Beacher Bums!

The Hillarious video of a Bleacher Bum Choking on A Hot Dog!

Haha! The only time a Reds Fan Will EVER do anything nice for A Cubs Fan!

"Throw It Back! Throw It Back! No! Keep The Hot Dog!"

There was no need for Cubs fans to choke today as The Cubs beat the Mets 8-1 to Complete a two game sweep of the New York Mets. The win increased Chicago's division lead to 1.5 games over the St Louis Cardinals.

"Alexander The Great" Helps Caps Force Game Seven

By The Associated Press

Alex Ovechkin was stifled, shut down and almost silent in his first NHL playoff series.
The league's leading scorer played like an MVP right on time in Game 6.


Ovechkin truly was "Alexander the Great" with the Washington Capitals' season on the line and put them in prime position to win a Game 7 for only the second time in franchise history.

Held without a goal for four straight games, Ovechkin scored twice in the third period to lift the Capitals to a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night and send the series back to Washington for a decisive Game 7.

"The stars, it seems to happen around them, whether it's John Elway and 'The Drive' or great baseball players getting the last at-bat," said Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau. "He was getting frustrated because they did such a good job on him, but he persevered and came through."

The Capitals have rallied back from a 3-1 hole and have a chance to win only the second Game 7 in team history Tuesday night. The other one should be painfully familiar to the Flyers faithful: Dale Hunter scored an overtime goal that led Washington past Philadelphia 20 years ago this month.

"We've won nothing and we know how resilient they are," Boudreau said.

The Caps have a shot to advance on home ice thanks to Ovechkin's timely, clutch goals. They are trying to become the 21st team in league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win a best-of-seven series.

Ovechkin never seemed overly concerned that he hadn't scored a goal since the Game 1 winner. The Flyers had frustrated the NHL's leading scorer so much with sticky defense that he wasn't much of a factor the last four games.

"It doesn't matter if I score," Ovechkin said. "If we win, I'm happy."

Ovechkin made the Capitals downright delirious.

After the Caps erased a 2-0 deficit late in the second period, Ovechkin made the Flyers pay early in the third.

Viktor Kozlov picked off a pass deep in the Washington zone and fed Ovechkin at center ice. He took the pass and skated untouched before he beat Martin Biron for the breakaway goal and a 3-2 lead 2:46 into the third period.

"All year I didn't have a chance to score on a breakaway," Ovechkin said. "I probably had one goal on a breakaway, I did what I always do and thank God it worked."

Ovechkin was just heating up. He ripped a one-timer on a cross-ice pass from Brooks Laich eight minutes later to give Washington a two-goal lead.

"It's Hollywood here and the script said he wins the game," said Caps owner Ted Leonsis.

All those Flyers fans who had taunted Ovechkin for three games suddenly fell silent. The only noise heard at the end were the Capitals banging their sticks on the boards in celebration.

"There is still another chance," said Flyers center Danny Briere. "We have to forget what happened and leave it all on the ice over there. We know we can win there, we did it earlier in the series. That is all we have to think about.

The Caps will play Pittsburgh with a series win. The Flyers would get Montreal.

The Flyers won Game 2 at Washington behind Biron's shutout.

The Flyers have lost two career playoff series after leading 3-1. They are 1-3 in Game 7s on the road, with their only win coming at Pittsburgh in a second-round series in 1989

"We just got away from our game," said Flyers center Mike Richards. "Now, tomorrow night's desperation time."

Not even the rowdy home crowd helped the Flyers. The sold-out crowd was dressed in their matching orange T-shirts and they only grew louder as goals from Briere and Richards put the Flyers up 2-0 in the second.

The Capitals, who rallied from a two-goal hole in Game 1 to win on Ovechkin's game winner, pulled through again.

Nicklas Backstrom pulled the Caps within one with this third goal of the series midway through the second.

Alexander Semin's third goal of the series with 1:57 left tied the score at 2. Biron was sprawled in the crease after he made a sensational save to stop John Erskine's shot, leaving Semin with a clear look for the easy goal.

Biron, who made 36 saves, is an abysmal 0-5 in the second of back-to-back games this season.

"They played with desperation and were throwing everything at the net," Biron said. "They skated hard and we got a little casual and I think that hurt us."

Cristobal Huet made 33 saves for Washington, settling in to have a good night after a tough start.

The Flyers best look against him in the third came when Braydon Coburn banged one off the post barely 30 seconds into the third.

The Flyers were cruising when Briere scored his NHL-best sixth playoff goal for a 2-0 lead only 1:18 into the second. The goal made the Flyers 2-for-2 on the power play - Richards scored one 3:49 into the game - after they entered 6-for-26.

Richards' goal was a positive sign that it could be the Flyers night: The team that scored first was 5-0 in the series.

Now make it 5-1.


Notes
Flyers D Jaroslav Modry was scratched. ... Richards has a point his last four games. ... Semin has a four-game scoring streak.

Casey Price Suts Out Bruins In Game Seven

By The Associated Press

Carey Price put a couple of tough losses behind him to save the Montreal Canadiens' playoff run and dash the Boston Bruins' hopes of an improbable comeback.
Price got his second shutout and Andrei Kostitsyn scored twice to lead Montreal to a 5-0 win over Boston on Monday night in the deciding game of their first-round playoff series.


The 20-year-old rookie stopped 25 shots overall, including 11 shots in the opening period. Price had allowed 10 goals overall in a pair of Canadiens losses after he got his first playoff shutout in a 1-0 win in Game 4.

"It was a rough couple of games and we knew it just wasn't going our way," Price said. "I knew it was going to turn around eventually, and tonight it did."

Mike Komisarek opened the scoring 3:31 in amid one of the first of countless roars from the raucous Bell Centre crowd over the course of the evening.

The Canadiens took control of the game in the second, outshooting the Bruins 17-6 while building a three-goal lead on a superb goal by Mark Streit midway through the period and Kostitsyn's second goal of the series at 15:13.

Kostitsyn punctuated the win with his second of the game, a power-play goal with 2:02 remaining in the third. Sergei Kostitsyn scored with 7.3 seconds remaining.

Top-seeded Montreal will face Philadelphia in the second round, if the Flyers win their Eastern Conference quarterfinal against Washington. Otherwise, the Canadiens will face the New York Rangers.

Tim Thomas stopped 30 shots for Boston, which fell short in its bid to overcome both 2-0 and 3-1 series deficits for the first time in team history.

"The character of this team can't be overemphasized, I don't think, for what we battled through all year and even in this seven-game series," Thomas said.

Bruins coach Claude Julien was behind the Canadiens' bench in 2004 when Montreal won three straight to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a first-round win over Boston.

"You've got to give them credit," said Alex Kovalev, who assisted on the Canadiens' first two goals. "They battled back and even down 3-1 and coming back to our building they were able to regroup and get a couple of wins, but the mistakes we made, we didn't compete like we did today. If we had played the way we played tonight I think we could have done it earlier."

Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau moved Kovalev to a line with Saku Koivu and Chris Higgins.

The move allowed rookie Sergei Kostitsyn to play on another line alongside his brother, Andrei, and center Tomas Plekanec as Carbonneau spread out the Canadiens' offense.

"We were trying to give some space to them, to be able to move around and control the puck," Kovalev said.

Komisarek got credit for his first career playoff goal as his point shot struck Bruins center Petteri Nokelainen's stick, causing a deflection that left Thomas no chance to recover and stop.

Streit made it a 2-0 lead 10:45 into the second as he slipped past Bruins captain Zdeno Chara to finish off a sensational passing play. Kovalev passed the puck back to Komisarek in the Canadiens' zone and waited on the right boards at center ice for the return pass.

The high-scoring Russian fed a cross ice pass to Maxim Lapierre as the Canadiens center entered the Bruins zone, and Lapierre dished off to Streit, who pushed the puck past Chara before driving the net to put a backhand between Thomas' pads for his first playoff goal.

"My mouth was wide open seeing that goal," Komisarek said. "The patience and poise that he had with the puck, and to bury it was pretty special."

Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn combined to increase the lead to three as Andrei beat Thomas at 15:13 for his second of the series, and first since Game 1.


Notes
Veteran Boston RW Glen Murray fell awkwardly into the boards after he was checked by Roman Hamrlik in the first period. A Bruins team spokesman said prior to the second period that Murray suffered a mid-torso injury and that he would not return to the game. ... Carbonneau used the same lineup as he did in Game 6. ... Montreal has never lost a series after leading 3-1.

Playoff Preview: April 22nd

Here Is Your Playoff Preview For tonight's Playoff Games!

Enjoy Game Two of the Mavericks-Hornets and Magic-Raptors and Suns-Spurs Tonight!

NBA highlights from April 21st

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 21st!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


Two Top Plays Today! Great Cavs Teamwork & Anderson Varejao Flips In the Finish!


Kyle Korver Beats the Shot Clock to Ice the Game for the Jazz!

NBA highlights from April 20

Here Are Your NBA highlights from April 20th!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!

NBA highlights from April 19

Here Are Your NBA highlights from April 19th!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!

Great First Round NBA Action!

Unbelievable First Round Playoff Action!!!! My Head is about to explode on My Birthday! Unreal!

Tim Duncan Drains a Game Tying Three in Overtime!!!


And Manu Ginobili Shuts the Door on the Suns in Double Overtime!!!


The Spurs Won 117-115 in Double Overtime!!!

Playoff Preview: Hornets-Mavericks


Playoff Preview: Nuggets-Lakers


Playoff Preview: Celtics-Hawks


Playoff Preview: Jazz-Rockets


Playoff Preview: Wizards-Cavaliers


Playoff Preview: Sixers-Pistions

Chad Johnson Wants To Be Traded Before Draft

The Master Of the Touchdown Celebration wants a new home.

Three-time All-Pro wide receiver Chad Johnson, who has been selected to the Pro Bowl the last five seasons, wants out of Cincinnati and will not report to any Bengals team functions.

"I want to be traded before the draft," Johnson told ESPN.com's John Clayton. "And if that doesn't happen, I want to be traded as soon as possible. I don't intend on reporting to anything.''

Johnson's comments come on the heels of Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer saying that Johnson indicated he would be at Cincy's mandatory minicamp in June, Clayton reported.

"I want to make this very clear,'' Johnson told Clayton on Wednesday. "I don't know where he got that. I made no assertion to Carson that I would do that. Nothing has changed from what I've been saying for three months that I don't want to play for the Bengals."

In regard to Palmer, Johnson said, "I wish he would stay out of my business."

The Bengals have up until now indicated that they have no plans to trade Johnson. The team has not yet commented on Johnson's latest remarks.

I wonder if Jerry Jones is listening? If I had a choice on whether Dallas chose Chad Johnson or PacMan Jones, I would say,let's give both a chance. If Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens can co-exist on the same field and Pac-Man Jones can quit "Making It Rain" at local Dallas Strip Clubs, the Cowboys would be a very dangerous team this season.

NBA highlights from April 15th

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 15th!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


And Your Top Play! Julian Wright Storms the Lane for the Slam!

PrimeTime NFL Schedule

ESPN Monday Night Football

Monday, Sept. 8- Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 15 - Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 22- New York Jets at San Diego Chargers 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 29 - Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6 - Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 13 - New York Giants at Cleveland Browns 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 20 - Denver Broncos at New England Patriots 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 27 - Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 3 - Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 10- San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 17 - Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 24 - Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 1 - Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 8 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 15 - Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 - Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears 8:30 p.m.

Outside Of Eagles-Cowboys or Colts-Titans, there's not any real good games on Monday Night Football this year.


NBC Sunday Night Football

Thursday, Sept. 4- Washington Redskins at New York Giants 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 7 - Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14- Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21- Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 28 - Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 5 - Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12 - New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 19 - Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26- No Game
Sunday, Nov. 2 - New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9 - New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16 - Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23 - Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30 - Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7 - New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 14- New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21 - San Diego Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28- TBD

Does NBC Still have the Flex Game Option? They won't need to use it. Each one of these games have the potential to be a great game.


NFL Network Thursday Night Football

Thursday, Nov. 6- Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns 8:15 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 13- New York Jets at New England Patriots 8:15 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 20- Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers 8:15 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 27- Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles 8:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4- Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers 8:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11- New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears 8:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18- Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars 8:15 p.m.

These mediocre games are made better by the fact that we won't have to listen to Bryant Gumbel make up players like "Rick Romo" or say that a team is wearing their throwback jerseys from 1663! Yay!

The 2008 NFL Schedule Is Out!

Eli Manning and the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants face off against Division Rival Washington in the Season Opener.
The Buffalo Bills will play in Toronto on Dec. 7 against Miami as part of an effort to expand their market to Canada.


This marks the first time the Bills will play during the regular season in Toronto, about a 1½-hour drive from Buffalo. The game was one of the highlights of the NFL schedule released Tuesday.

The season opens Sept. 4 with Washington, led by new head coach Jim Zorn, at the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants, a game already announced along with three others from the opening weekend: Chicago at Indianapolis on Sunday night, Sept. 7 and two games Monday night, Sept. 8: Minnesota at Green Bay and Denver at Oakland.

ESPN's Monday night schedule concludes with one of the NFL's most-heated rivalries, with the Packers hosting the Bears. Green Bay appears three times on Monday night, matching the Browns for most appearances on Monday night in 2008.

The Giants make their lone Monday night appearance on Oct. 13 when they travel to Cleveland. The Patriots, who flirted with a perfect season in 2007, will make their only Monday night appearance on Oct. 20 when they host the Broncos.

Also, the Houston Texans will make their first-ever appearance on Monday Night Football, hosting the Jaguars on Dec. 1.

For the second consecutive year, a regular-season game will be played at London's Wembley Stadium, with New Orleans, the "home" team, opposing San Diego on Oct. 26. The Dolphins and Giants played there last season.

New England, which was upset in the Super Bowl by the Giants but has a record 19-game regular-season winning streak, will open at home against Kansas City on Sept. 7. In what has become an annual must-see game, Tom Brady and the Patriots will visit Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Once again, there will be a Thanksgiving Day tripleheader. The Lions will host the the Titans at 12:30 p.m. ET, the Seahawks will visit the Cowboys at 4:15 p.m. ET and the Eagles will host the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Besides Zorn, three other NFL coaches will make their debuts this season. In Week 1, the Ravens' John Harbaugh will lead his team against the Cincinnati Bengals in Baltimore; the Dolphins' Tony Sparano will make his debut against the Jets in Miami; and the Falcons' Mike Smith will lead his team against the Lions.

The NFL Network games, in their third season, will start earlier this season with Denver at Cleveland on Thursday, Nov. 6. In all, there will be eight, but no Saturday night game on the final weekend when last year the Patriots finished an unbeaten regular season by beating the Giants 38-35 in a contest that also was shown by NBC and CBS because the NFL Network's dispute with major cable systems limited its availability.

The other NFL Network games are all on Thursday nights except for Saturday, Dec. 20, when Baltimore is at Dallas.

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NBA highlights from April 14

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, April 14th! Could Cleveland lock up the fourth seed in the East? Could Golden State keep their Playoff Hopes Alive Against Phoenix? Click on the video below to find out!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


And Your Top Play! LeBron James Charges to the Rim and Throws Down a Monster Slam!

Two Weeks Into Baseball Season...

Randy Johnson will replace Doug Davis in the rotation. Davis is coming off Thyroid Cancer surgery.
Here's What I've Observed...
RANDY JOHNSON TO MAKE FIRST START OF 2008 TONIGHT AGAINST GIANTS
Diamondbacks Pitcher Randy Johnson will make his first Major League appearance since June 28 on Monday night in San Francisco.
The Big Unit suffered a reherniation of a disk in his back and underwent surgery in early August to repair it.
Johnson is being opposed by Giants Left Hander Johnathan Sanchez.

This Brings Me To...

FREE BASEBALL!!!
The D-backs are making the game available on MLB.TV free of charge without a local blackout in the Phoenix area.
Gametime is 7:15 MST/10:15 ET.

I Can't wait to see this game tonight. I hope we see the Randy Johnson of old. The Randy Johnson that threw a Perfect Game May 18, 2004 against the Braves, the Randy Johnson that beaned a bird with his 95 MPH fastball!

I don't believe we'll see anything like that ever again!

JOE GIRARDI NATIONAL LEAGUE STYLE OF MANAGING SUPRISING, BUT WON'T WORK IN AMERICAN LEAGUE
Joe Girardi had a suprising approach to the Red Sox-Yankees Game. He was managing like he was back in Miami managing the 2006 Florida Marlins. He was calling for sacrafice bunts and for hit and runs, and Red Sox Manager Terry Francona probably hasn't seen this approach since he managed against Clint Hurdle in the 2007 World Series.

The style was suprising, but in the Home Run Power World of the American League, it won't work.

The Yankees only hope to make the postseason this year is if they win the American League Wild Card.

JOE TORRE HAS MANAGED TO KEEP DODGERS AFLOAT DESPITE INJURIES TO THIRD BASEMAN NOMAR GARCIAPARRA AND ANDY LA ROCHE.
How? Three Words. Pitching and defense. Hiroki Kuroda has appeared to be another great Japanese pitcher through one start, and the Dodgers Double Play Combo of Rafael Furcal and James Loney have kept the Dodgers in ballgames so far this season. I didn't expect Joe Torre to be able to stay afloat in the NL West with Colorado and Arizona breathing down his neck. I may be wrong. It's still too early to tell.



CUBS LEFT HANDERS TED LILLY AND RICH HILL HAVING COMMAND ISSUES
Both Lilly and Hill have had two mediocre starts in the young Baseball Season. What are the Cubs doing about It? With Lilly, they are saying he will work himself out. For Hill, he has been temporarily assigned to the Bullpen. The Cubs believe Hill will fix whatever is wrong in the bullpen.

JIM LEYLAND HAD EVERY RIGHT TO LET HIS FRUSTERATIONS OUT ON HID TEAM AFTER 11-0 DESTROYING BOUGHT THEM TO 2-9 ON THE SEASON
Kenny Rogers tied Nolan Ryan for the Career Lead In Grand Slams given up, with 10. Both Paul Konerko and Joe Crede hit Grand Slams as the White Sox Bamboozled the Tigers 11-0.
Leyland was not happy after this game, letting the team know how badly they have stunk. Detroit had better right the ship soon, or they will be watching the World Series on FOX instead of Playing in it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG MADDUX!
Greg Maddux, "Mad Dog" turns 42 today. Maddux is still going strong. He has never been a Strikeout pitcher, yet he has 3,000 atrikeouts. Maddux has always pitched to weak contact. Maddux will be going into the Hall Of Fame as the Greatest Non-Power Pitcher in the history of Baseball.